The Democrat, who represents parts of north St. Louis, "was allegedly caught on tape accepting money from a local gas station owner for whom he had done an earlier favor" reports KMOX.

El-Amin had been considered a likely candidate to replace former state Senator Jeff Smith, who resigned from office last month after admitting he lied to investigators examining election-law violations. But shortly after throwing his hat in the ring, El-Amin earlier this month withdrew his nomination.

In 2006, El-Amin succeeded his wife, Yaphett El-Amin, as state representative for the 57th District of Missouri. Prior to his entry into politics, the 39-year-old El-Amin dabbled in real estate and spent a dozen years working as an assembler at the Ford plant in Hazelwood.